Juniper & Motorola team on IP cable modems

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 15 November 2005 13:59

Business IT - Technology

Motorola and Juniper Networks have announced plans to collaborate on the development of a modular cable modem termination system.

They plan to jointly develop standards-based M-CMTS platforms to enable cable operators "to reliably and cost-effectively support next-generation IP-based services". These will include unified data, voice, video, and on-demand services over IP; robust network security and policy management tools; and a migration path to IPv6. They say that the new M-CMTS will be compatible with existing CMTS and IP network assets, protecting existing investments and simplifying network evolution.

Modular CMTS is an initiative being developed by CableLabs to provide the different functions of the CMTS through separate hardware and software elements. As service providers migrate multiple networks to a single, IP-based network, M-CMTS platforms will scale services more efficiently by sharing the workload among several components.

Motorola is an established supplier of CMTS for current HFC networks: its Broadband Services Router BSR 64000, is deployed in over 100 systems around the world, and is qualified to deliver packetcable multimedia (PCMM) services within DOCSIS 2.0. Juniper will bring its expertise in routing technologies to the collaboration.